Integration of Transportation System Analyses in Cube

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Integration of Transportation SystemAnalyses in
Cube

• Wade L. White, AICP
• Citilabs Inc

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A comprehensive transportation planning system

• Cube has two parts
• Cube Base the user interface comprised of 3
  sections
• Application Manager flow-chart style tool for
  building model systems
• Scenario Manager tool for applying the model to
  multiple scenarios
• Graphics editing of all data in text, tabular
  and graphical form
• Functional Libraries
• VOYAGER
• TP
• TRANPLAN
• TRIPS
• CARGO
• AVENUE
• DYNASIM
• Analyst
• LAND (in development)
• LOGIT (in development)

Cube Avenue
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Transportation modeling tools

• Macroscopic Modeling
• Mesoscopic Modeling
• Microscopic Modeling

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Macroscopic Modeling

• Macroscopic Models generally consider the entire
  system and estimate routing and flows through a
  network for a time period.
• Currently used for almost all strategic
  (long-range) planning.
• FSUTMS Models
• Very fast analysis of very large areas.
• Models the behavior of people taking into
  account
• Why people are making trips
• Why they select a particular mode
• Why they select a particular route

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Cube Voyager

• the latest technology for the forecasting of
  personal travel.
• a modular and script-based structure allowing the
  incorporation of any model methodology
• HCM junction-based capacity restraint for highway
  analysis
• includes highly flexible network and matrix
  calculators for the calculation of travel demand
  and for the detailed comparison of scenarios.
• designed to provide an open and user-friendly
  framework for modeling at any level
• This makes the management of data a snap, and the
  coding of complex methodologies simple via a
  step-by-step approach.

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Cube Voyager Model
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Highway Traffic Flow
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Mesoscopic Models

• MESOscopic are MORE detailed than MACROscopic
  travel demand models but are LESS detailed than
  MICROscopic simulation models. 
• Cube Avenue, a mesoscopic dynamic assignment
  model is available for CUBE. 
• With mesoscopic models, it is still possible to
  quickly analyze larger areas with a more detailed
  model which overcomes the pitfalls of the
  macroscopic travel demand models.
• Takes into account intersection configurations
  and controls
• More detailed estimates of delay, travel time,
  and capacities
• Enforces capacity limitations and the effects of
  queues blocking back
• Models flow curves and changing demand throughout
  an analysis period
• Allows vehicles to respond to traffic conditions
  and change their route

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Cube Avenue

• representing vehicles as discrete packets or
  individual vehicles
• assigning a specific time of departure from the
  origin point in the network to each packet or
  vehicle
• routing the vehicles along multiple paths in
  response to dynamic traffic conditions
• representing queues and bottlenecks including
  blocking back or the formation of queues on a
  roadway segment or at an intersection which spill
  back up-stream to block roadway segments which
  feed into the roadway segments
• Region-wide, corridor-level
• Evacuation modeling, greater analysis of
  geometrics, traffic control and ITS strategies
• Quantify impacts of upstream traffic congestion
• Summary of Avenue
• Measure queuing at intersections and merge points
  in a network
• Isolate secondary impacts from one intersection
  through another
• Evaluate the benefits of ITS (intelligent
  transportation system) projects
• Simulate alternative infrastructure, operational,
  and policy changes to optimize emergency
  evacuation plans and strategies
• Test strategies to improve arrival and departure
  from stadiums and other special-event facilities

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NERPM Dynamic Traffic Assignment
Build TOD Vehicle Trips
Establish Dynamic Assignment Parameters
Dynamic Traffic Assignment
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NERPM DTA Animation
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Microscopic Modeling

• Microscopic models are VERY detailed and take
  into account vehicles interactions with the
  following aspects
• The roadway geometry (lanes, turning lanes,
  weaving areas, exclusive lanes)
• Physical size of different types of vehicles
• Details of traffic control (signal timing,
  phasing, geometric configurations)
• Microsimulations are Stochastic (contain random
  processes) which emulates
• The fluctuating nature of traffic flows
• Variations in human behavior and responses
• Microsimulations are Multimodal and can consider
  the effects of traffic interacting with all other
  users of the transportation system
• Pedestrians, Bicyclists, Motorcyclists
• Trucks and other Heavy Vehicles
• Transit vehicles, Taxis, Light and Heavy rail
  vehicles

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Cube Dynasim

• Integration with demand models
• Polygon select of an area and export of data to
  the microsimulation. Saves enormous time
• Stand alone microsimulation
• Layered approach much more intelligent than other
  software
• 2d and 3d animation
• Export of shape layers and images
• Use of industry standard 3ds files for high
  quality 3d
• True sharing of results via exportable animations
• Scenario-based Simulation
• Only one Dynasim project for all simulation
  alternatives
• Eliminates redundancy
• Ensures consistency
• Analysis of Multiple Runs inherent to the system
• Automatically performs multiple runs and
  summarizes results
• Ensures a robust analysis with no additional
  burden on the user
• Interactive Results
• Completed simulations may be exported to a
  DynaViews program
• Interactive Animations with the same features as
  Dynasim
• Freely distributable

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Building a Dynasim Simulation
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Dynasim Simulation
Roundabout Simulation
Bus Terminal Simulation
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Summary

• Modern software platform providing
• integrated environment for regional planning
• regional traffic simulation
• corridor level detailed project evaluation

Cube Dynasim for corridor simulation animations
Cube Voyager for regional planning traffic flows
Cube Avenue (DTA) for region-wide simulation
queues/ delays
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Questions